Appliance control console

ABSTRACT

An appliance control console is provided having an upstanding cabinet structure with an operation instruction form support member pivotally secured thereto for movement between a retracted position and an extended position. The pivotal connection between the support member and the cabinet structure is spaced from the support member and positioned relative to the support member so as to cause the center of gravity of the support member to lie rearwardly of the pivotal connection when the support member nears the retracted position, and to cause the center of gravity to lie forward of the pivotal connection when the support member nears the extended position. By this arrangement when the support member is moved to a position nearing the retracted position, the center of gravity being spaced rearwardly of the pivotal connection will tend to rotate the support member rearwardly to the retracted position, and when the support member is moved to a position nearing the extended position, the center of gravity being spaced forwardly of the pivotal connection will tend to rotate the support member forwardly to the extended position. First and second stop means are provided to maintain the support member in the retracted and extended positions. A counterweight may be provided to facilitate the rotation of the support member without the use of excessive force.

iinited States Patent Erickson et al Jan.25,1972

[541 APPLIANCE CONTROL CONSOLE [72] Inventors: Clifford E. Erickson; Harrison K. Linger,

both of Louisville, Ky.

[73] Assignee: General Electric Company [22] Filed: Dec. 10, 1969 [21] Appl. No.: 883,888

[52] US. Cl ..40/l24.l

[51] Int. Cl ..G09f 1/00 [58] Field ofSearch ..40/125, 124.1, l;281/15 B;

Cole et al... ..248/28 Ramee ..40/ 1 24.1

Primary Examiner Robert W. Michell Assistant Examiner- Wenceslao J. Contreras Attorney.lames E. Espe, Harry F. Manbeck, Jr., Frank L. Neuhauser, Oscar B. Waddell and Joseph B. Forman 5 7 ABSTRACT An appliance control console is provided having an upstanding cabinet structure with an operation instruction form support member pivotally secured thereto for movement between a retracted position and an extended position. The pivotal connection between the support member and the cabinet structure is spaced from the support member and positioned relative to the support member so as to cause the center of gravity of the support member to lie rearwardly of the pivotal connection when the support member nears the retracted position, and to cause the center of gravity to lie forward of the pivotal connection when the support member nears the extended position. By this arrangement when the support member is moved to a position nearing the retracted position, the center of gravity being spaced rearwardly of the pivotal connection will tend to rotate the support member rearwardly to the retracted position, and when the support member is moved to a position nearing theextended position, the center of gravity being spaced forwardly of the pivotal connection will tend to rotate the support member forwardly to the extended position. First and second stop means are provided to maintain the support member in the retracted and extended positions. A counterweight may be provided to facilitate the rotation of the support member without the use of excessive force.

3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTED JANZSIQTZ 3,636,645

. INVENTOR CLIFFORD E ERKKSON Fy HARRISON K. UN GER THFJR ATTORNEY APPLIANCE CONTROL CONSOLE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to a control console for such major appliances as automatic clothes washers and the like, and in particular relates to a support system for an operating instruction form to supplement such instructions as may appear on the front wall of the control console.

It is desirable, in conjunction with the operation of major appliances such as automatic washers, to provide a posting of such operating instructions as are necessary for the operation of todays increasingly complex appliance control consoles. Especially in conjunction with the operation of automatic washers is it desirable to provide such a posting of instructions in a position which is readily visible to the operator both before and during the operation of the machine, as the operator may desire to alter the cycle selection at some point during machine operation. Conventionally, such operating instructions have been posted on the interior of the lid which closes the access opening to the washer. One problem with this conventional posting of instructions on the interior of the lid is that most automatic clothes washers today include a lid switch which will terminate the operation of the washer should the lid be opened. Another drawback of such posting is that such machines frequently include a lid lock means to prevent the opening of the lid during spinning of the washing basket. Although these lid switch and lid lock means are desirable from the standpoint of safety, they are an aggravation to the operator who desires to refer to the instructions printed on the lid interior. Still another inconvenience as is occasioned by the printing of operating instructions on the lid interior is that the lid, when in the open position, may block the operators view of and access to the controls, whereby it is required to pivot the lid open and closed to progressively set each of the individual controls following a reading of the pertinent instructions.

Furthermore, it is desirable that the operating instructions be positioned in closed proximity to the control panel, and ideally adjacent thereto, for ready reference. It is also desirable, for aesthetic reasons, to support the operating instructions in such a manner as to permit their removal from sight when reference thereto is not required.

In an application Ser. No. 799,655 filed Feb. 17, 1969, by application Erickson and assigned to the assignee of the instant invention, there is disclosed an instruction support which is pivotally mounted adjacent the front upper portion of the control console, and which employs various positioning means and magnetic means associated therewith for selectively positioning the support. Although the support of the aforementioned application features the capability of an infinite position setting between the extreme positions of fully retracted and fully extended, it is desirable to provide a less complex and less expensive support system which does not depend on magnetic or frictionally engaging members for its sustenance in either the retracted or the extended positions.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an appliance control console including a simple and inexpensive appliance instruction form support which is positioned adjacent the appliance control panel and which is movable between retracted and extended positions, but which requires no magnetic or frictionally engageable members to maintain it in the retracted or extended positions.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such an instruction fomi support having its pivotal connection to the cabinet structure of the control console so arranged as to utilize the center of gravity of the support member to substantially assist in the movement of the support member and in the maintenance of the support member in both the retracted and extended positions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly stated, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a control console for a major appliance comprising an upstanding cabinet structure having a front surface and a top surface. At least one manually actuated control is provided which is operable from the front surface. A support member is provided having a forward-facing surface adapted to display printed matter thereon and having spacing means extending rearwardly therefrom. Means are provided to form a pivotal connection between the spacing means and the cabinet structure adjacent the intersection of the front and top surfaces whereby the support member may rotated about the pivotal connection between a retracted position and an extended position. A first stop means is provided to limit the movement of the support member when the support member is in the retracted position. A second stop means is provided to limit the movement of the support member when the support member is in the extended position. The pivotal connection is spaced from the support member and positioned relative to the support member by the spacing means so as to cause the center of gravity of the support member and spacing means to lie rearwardly of the pivotal connection when the support member nears the retracted position and to cause the center of gravity to lie forwardly of the pivotal connection when the support member nears the ex tended position. By this arrangement, when the support member is moved to a position nearing the retracted position, the center of gravity being spaced rearwardly of the pivotal connection will tend to rotate the support member rearwardly about the pivotal connection to the retracted position wherein the movement of the support member is limited by the first stop means. Furthermore, when the support member is moved to a position nearing the extended position, the center of gravity being spaced forwardly of the pivotal connection will tend to rotate the support member forwardly about the pivotal connection to the extended position wherein movement of the support member is limited by the second stop means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as the invention, it is believed the invention will be better understood from the following description of the preferred embodiment taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the upper portion of an automatic washer embodying the support of this invention shown in the extended position;

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the support of FIG. 1 shown in the extended position, the view being taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the support shown in the retracted position;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the support similar to FIG. 2 but showing the support during movement from the retracted position to the extended position; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of one embodiment of the elements which may be employed to achieve a pivotal connection between the support and the control panel, the elements being shown prior to assembly.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawing, and initially to FIG. 1 thereof, there is illustrated an agitator-type, vertical axis automatic clothes washer 10 including an outer appearance cabinet 11 including a top surface 12 having an opening 13 formed therein to provide access to a clothes receiving basket 14 positioned within the cabinet 11. Basket 14 is conventionally rotatably mounted for washing and rinsing clothes therein and for centrifugally extracting liquid therefrom. At the center of basket 14 there is provided an agitator 15 to agitate the washing fluid and thereby effect the desired washing and rinsing action. A lid (not shown) is commonly mounted on cabinet 11 by appropriate hinge means so as to provide access through opening 13 to the basket 14 when in the open position, and to prevent access to the basket 14 when in the closed position.

Secured to the top surface 12 of cabinet 11 is a control console 16 comprising an upstanding cabinet structure having a front surface 17 from which extend a number of manually operable controls 18 for causing the machine to proceed through a variety of cycles which may be selected according to the desires of the operator. It will be understood that a considerable variety of cycles are frequently provided in conjunction with automatic washing machines to correspond with the washing requirements of differing fabrics depending on their thickness, composition, size and other factors. As will be apparent from FIGS. 2-4 taken in conjunction with FIG. 1, control console 16 additionally comprises a top surface 19, sidewalls 20, rear wall 21, and upstanding side trim members 22.

As was previously mentioned, it is desirable to provide a posting of the appliance operating instructions at a location adjacent the front surface of the control console in a position which is readily visible to the operator when required for reference both before and during operation of the appliance, yet which may be moved to a retracted and substantially hidden position when not required for reference. For this purpose we provide a support member 23 3). a forward facing surface 24 adapted to display thereon such printed matter as may be essential to the operation of controls 18.

Referring now more particularly to FIG. 2, 3, and 4, it may be seen that support member 23 is adapted for pivotal movement relative to the upstanding cabinet structure of control console 16 between an extended position (shown in FIG. 2) and a retracted position (shown in FIG. 3.) A spacing means, indicated generally by the numeral 25, extends rearwardly of support member 23 to a position substantially adjacent the intersection of the front surface 17 and the top surface 19, at which location pivotal connection means 26 are provided to form a pivotal connection between the spacing means and the upstanding cabinet structure of control console 16. It is the function of spacing means 25, as will be explained later in more detail, to so space and position the aforementioned pivotal connection relative to the support member 23 such that the center of gravity of the support member and the spacing means will assist in the movement of the support member between the extended and retracted positions and will also assist in sustaining the support member in these two positions.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention the spacing means 25 and the support member 23 are integrally formed. Such integral formation may comprise the J-shaped structure 27 shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 wherein support member 23 comprises the longer leg 28 of .I-shaped structure 27 and the spacing means 25 comprises the shorter leg 29 thereof. It will be realized, however, the integral or interconnected spacing elements of an alternate configuration may be utilized to perform the spacing function of spacing means 25.

Iivotal connection means 26, as shown in FIGS. 2, 4, and 5, in the preferred embodiment comprises at least one cooperating slot and tab arrangement wherein a tab 30 is formed integrally with the shorter leg 29 and a slot 31 adapted to receive tab 30 is formed within the upstanding cabinet structure of control console 16. Both tab 30 and slot 31 are substantially T-shaped whereby the opposed projecting ends 32 of the T-shaped tab 30 may be inserted completely through the opposed slot extension 33 of T-shaped slot 31 enabling the trunk 34 of the tab 30 to be received by the corresponding trunk region 35 of slot 31. As the trunk region 35 is of substantially greater height that the thickness of tab 30, tab 30 may be pivoted relative to slot 31 without causing opposed tab ends 32 to come into alignment with opposed slot extensions 33. Thus, a pivotal connection is formed which will permit limited rotation of support member 23 relative to the upstanding cabinet structure of control console 16. A retaining means may also be associated with tab 30 to retain the tab within slot posed projecting ends 32. Deflected portions 36 may be so formed as to require a slight elastic deformation of tab 30 during installation through slot 31. In the embodiment shown, deflected portions 36 provide ramplike lower surfaces 37 to elastically deform the tabs during installation, and abutting surfaces 38 to prevent withdraw of tab 30 from slot 31.

In order to limit the movement of support member 23, first and second stop means are provided for the retracted and extended positions, respectively. The first stop means may comprise top surface 19 which is adapted to engage the outer end 39 of the longer leg 28 when the support member 23 is in the retracted position of FIG. 3. The second stop means may comprise a portion of the rear face of front surface 17 which is engaged by the opposed projecting ends 32 of tab 30 when the support member is in the extended position of FIG. 2. By this arrangement, the first and second stop means serve to define the limits of rotation of the support member 23 relative to the upstanding cabinet structure of control console 16.

In accordance with the instant invention, the pivotal connection between the support member 23 and the upstanding cabinet structure of control console 16 is so spaced from and so positioned relative to the support member 23 as to permit the center of gravity of the support member 23 and spacing means 25 to assist in the movement of the support member, and to serve to sustain the support member in either the retracted or extended positions as may be defined by the aforementioned first and second stop means. By way of illustration, the pivotal connection may be so located relative to the support member as to cause the aforementioned center of gravity to lie rearwardly of the pivotal connection when the support member nears the retracted position, and to cause the center of gravity to lie forwardly of the pivotal connection when the support member nears the extended position. By such an arrangement, when the support member is moved to a position nearing the retracted position, the rearward spacing of the center of gravity from the pivotal connection will tend to rotate the support member rearwardly about the pivotal connection to the retracted position wherein the rearward movement of the support member is limited by the first stop means. The support member will thus be sustained in the retracted position. Similarly, when the support member is moved to a position nearing the extended position, the for- V ward spacing of the center of gravity from the pivotal connection will tend to rotate the support member forwardly about the pivotal connection to the extended position wherein the forward movement of the support member is limited by the second stop means. The support member will thus be sustained in the extended position.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the support member 23 includes a counterweight 40 provided adjacent the intersection of legs 28 and 29 and secured to the support member by means of appropriate fasteners such as screws 41. Furthermore, in the preferred embodiment the pivotal connection between the support member 23 and the upstanding cabinet structure of control console 16 is positioned substantially closer to the intersection of the legs 28 and 29 that to outer end 39 of leg 28. As will be apparent, the counterweight 40 serves to permit the rotation of the support member 23 about the pivotal connection so positioned without the use of excessive force.

Rotation of support member 23 from the retracted position of FIG. 3 to the extended position of FIG. 2 is readily accomplished, as shown in FIG. 4 by a gentle downward force exerted on the support member in the area adjacent the intersection of legs 28 and 29. As will be seen in FIG. 2, a recess 42 is provided in front surface 17 to receive a portion of leg 29 and counterweight 40.

One significant advantage of the preferred embodiment of my invention is that front surface 17 whereon the operating instructions are displayed, is brought from a hidden position atop the cabinet structure of control console 16 forwardly and downwardly to a position substantially adjacent the area of operation of the controls 18. When counterweight 40 is formed as a trim strip having a front portion 43 adapted to frame the upper portion of the control console when support member 23 is in the retracted position, it will be seen that front portion 43 is pivoted downwardly and into recess 42 to a substantially hidden position when the support member 23 is moved to the extended position. By this arrangement, the counterweight serves both to augment the rotation of the support member 23 without the use of excessive force, and as a trim strip to frame the control console when the support member is in the retracted position; yet the front framing surface 43 of the trim strip or counterweight 40 is withdrawn from view when the support member 23 is rotated to the extended position.

As was previously mentioned, the control console arrangement of this invention is particularly adapted for use in connection with major appliances such as automatic clothes washers wherein it is desirable to provide a posting of the appliance operating instructions at a location adjacent the front surface of the control console in a position which is readily visible to the operator when required for reference, yet which, at other times, may be moved to a retracted and substantially hidden position. From the foregoing description it should now be apparent that the present invention provides such an instruction support which is simple and inexpensive to produce and assemble, which utilizes the center of gravity thereof to assist in moving and sustaining the support in position, and which serves to display the operating instructions in a position substantially adjacent the area of operation of the controls.

As will be evident from the foregoing description, certain aspects of construction of the example illustrated, and it is contemplated that various modifications or applications will occur to those skilled in the art. It is therefore intended that the appended claims shall cover such modifications and applications as do not depart from the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A control console for a major appliance comprising:

an upstanding cabinet structure having a front surface and a top surface sloping downwardly to the rear thereof; actuated control operable from said front surface;

at least one manually actuated control operable from said front surface;

a member having a surface adapted to display printed matter thereon;

a spacing means at one end of said member and extending rearwardly of said printed surface;

means forming a pivotal connection between said spacing means and said cabinet structure adjacent the intersection of said front and top surfaces;

said pivotal connection being spaced from said member and positioned relative to said member by said spacing means such that the center of gravity of said member and said spacing means lies forwardly of said pivotal connection where said member nears a substantially vertical position;

whereby when said member is moved nearing a position relatively parallel to the top surface of the control console, said center of gravity being spaced rearwardly of said pivotal connection will tend to rotate said member rearwardly about said pivotal connection to the position relatively parallel to the top surface of the control console, and when said member is moved nearing a position substantially vertical, said center of gravity being spaced forwardly of said pivotal connection will tend to rotate said member forwardly about said pivotal connection to the substantially vertical position.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said spacing means and said member are integrally formed, said integral formation comprising a J-shaped structure with said member as the longer leg and the spacing means as the shorter leg of said J- shaped structure.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein: said pivotal connectlon 18 positioned substantially closer to the intersection of said spacing means and said longer leg than to the free end of said longer leg; and

said member includes a counterweight provided adjacent said intersection of said legs;

whereby said member may be rotated about said pivotal connection so positioned without the use of excessive force.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,636 ,645 Dated January 25, 1972 ven r(5) Clifford E. Erickson; Harrison K. Linger It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 5, line 41, and Column 6, line 1, cancel "actuated control operable from said front surface;"

Signed and sealed this 15th day of August 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSGHALK Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer ORM P0-1050 (10-69) uscoMM-Dc 6O376-P69 U.S GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE l969 O-366334 

1. A control console for a major appliance comprising: an upstanding cabinet structure having a front surface and a top surface sloping downwardly to the rear thereof; at least one manually actuated control operable from said front surface; a member having a surface adapted to display printed matter thereon; a spacing means at one end of said member and extending rearwardly of said printed surface; means forming a pivotal connection between said spacing means and said cabinet structure adjacent the intersection of said front and top surfaces; said pivotal connection being spaced from said member and positioned relative to said member by said spacing means such that the center of gravity of said member and said spacing means lies forwardly of said pivotal connection where said member nears a substantially vertical position; whereby when said member is moved nearing a position relatively parallel to the top surface of the control console, said center of gravity being spaced rearwardly of said pivotal connection will tend to rotate said member rearwardly about said pivotal connection to the position relatively parallel to the top surface of the control console, and when said member is moved nearing a position substantially vertical, said center of gravity being spaced forwardly of said pivotal connection will tend to rotate said member forwardly about said pivotal connection to the substantially vertical position.
 2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said spacing means and said member are integrally formed, said integral formation comprising a J-shaped structure with said member as the longer leg and the spacing means as the shorter leg of said J-shaped structure.
 3. The invention of claim 2 wherein: said pivotal connection is positioned substantially closer to the intersection of said spacing means and said longer leg than to the free end of said longer leg; and said member includes a counterweight provided adjacent said intersection of said legs; whereby said member may be rotated about said pivotal connection so positioned without the use of excessive force. 